Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: First Day at Action School
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It had only been a week ago.
The trivial story of mine tailing and watching over Yu-na on her first day of school spread like wildfire, as if it had grown legs.
And how did it spread? Through articles packed with eyewitness testimonies.
I still remember the headlines vividly.
[Dad tails daughter's first day of school? Actually practicing for his next project?] [Daughter-obsessed dad. Actor Lee Jun-seo's tailing mission! Daughter knew all along. 'He's not a suspicious person, so don't report him.'] [Fans pick actor Lee Jun-seo's charm: seemingly perfect yet full of flaws?]
Flaws as charm? What kind of nonsense...
And who came up with the idea that I was practicing tailing for my next project?
It's ridiculous.
Ever since those articles dropped, I've been too embarrassed to show my face. My acquaintances and agency CEO are too busy teasing me.
Every morning, they text me jokingly, asking if I'm not heading out to tail someone today.
On top of that, even In-cheol, whom I trusted, teased me endlessly.
'Aren't you tailing the school route today?'
That's what In-cheol said to me on the way here today.
"Haa."
I let out a deep sigh.
The more I think back on it, the more my anger bubbles up.
Ah, just stop thinking about it.
I shook my head to clear my mind and scanned my surroundings. This place, with its high ceiling like an auditorium and packed with people...
'Seoul Action School.'
The trainees, shouting powerful kiais, were practicing actions so realistic they looked like real fights.
By the way.
What kind of blockbuster action drama are they filming to bring in a legendary film director... For a drama, no less?
This is the school run by the famous Park Mu-jin, Korea's renowned stunt director.
"Hap! Hah!"
"Yaap!"
Right in front of me, they began recreating a fight scene from the "Nine Era" days that had swept through elementary schools like a typhoon.
Their thrilling fight...
No, action practice.
I was watching intently when a small shadow fell over the floor, followed by a familiar voice.
"Jun-seo, junior. What are you doing sitting alone?"
Senior Yang Hyuk-su, dressed in workout clothes, plopped down right next to me.
"Senior, you just got here?"
"Are you pointing out that I arrived late? We've still got about 30 minutes left."
"That's not it. I was just asking casually. Don't read into it."
"Got it. But..."
He trailed off, gazing at the stuntmen deep in practice.
The stuntmen's passionate actions still looked like a fierce battle.
A long moment later, he opened his mouth.
"...Those guys are really amazing."
"What about them?"
"Stuntmen are there to make actors shine, right? No matter how top-level their action is... everyone praises the actors first. They don't praise the stuntmen upfront. Yet they practice with such passion. To me, that looks incredible."
Yeah, that's true.
Just as Senior Yang Hyuk-su said, everyone praises the actors first, and stuntmen barely get any credit.
We shine because of their blood, sweat, and tears.
"......"
"Oh, right. Jun-seo junior? Or not..."
The Senior Yang Hyuk-su who had called me flashed an uneasy smile.
"...Why?"
"The charmingly flawed Jun-seo junior? How was tailing Yu-na's school route today?"
"......"
Ah, I had a feeling.
Sure enough, Senior Yang Hyuk-su must have seen those articles that spread everywhere last time.
He looked at me not responding and burst into mischievous laughter.
"Ahaha!"
"...Stop laughing."
"Jun-seo. I'll subtly mention it to the director, so how about learning how to tail without getting caught here?"
Sneakily.
He inched closer, so I backed away to keep distance.
"I'm good. I don't want to know."
"You're keeping the charm intact? Can't argue with that. Heh heh."
He snickered and sidled up again, draping an arm over my shoulder.
"Seriously, working with you, Jun-seo junior, is my greatest stroke of luck."
"...What's that? Suddenly."
"Oh, nothing. Just happy to get close to such a proud junior."
Rustle.
I sensed a presence and glanced sideways to see Senior Shin Su-young settling next to us, fiddling with her phone.
'What? When did she get here?'
She appeared like a ghost and bowed her head slightly when our eyes met.
"Hello. Don't mind me—continue your conversation."
"......"
"......"
An awkward silence descended with the difficult-to-approach Shin Su-young joining us.
After about an hour of short waiting.
Bang!
Finally, the stunt director made his appearance. Tanned skin, lean and healthy muscles. Just looking at his face, he seemed incredibly strict.
Striding in from the entrance.
He scanned the trainees practicing, then approached where we were gathered and smiled warmly.
"Nice to meet you. I'm the stunt director, Park Mu-jin."
The stunt director naturally asked us all for handshakes.
After the seniors.
I grasped Park Mu-jin director's hand.
His hand was rock-hard.
It proved how much effort he'd put in to reach this position.
"Niceties done. Shall we get to the point? How much action experience do you all have?"
"I've done three action dramas."
At Yang Hyuk-su's bold reply, the director shook his head lightly.
"Not minor actions. I mean mostly action, like in movies."
"Then... just once."
"And actress Shin Su-young?"
"None for me."
"Actor Lee Jun-seo probably none too?"
"...Yes."
That's right.
Across my past and present lives, I've never done a project where action was the specialty.
Back then, I mostly did detective dramas or social dramas. So this is a new challenge.
"Yes, then we'll have to teach you step by step, nice and easy. You're all in workout clothes, so shall we start right away?"
With that, the director stretched his arm leftward. There, trainees were spinning around.
"Just about twenty laps. You could get seriously hurt without warming up. Hurry and run! No time to waste."
Senior Shin Su-young took off first.
We followed right behind.
One lap. Three laps. Five laps.
Ten laps. Twenty laps.
As per Park Mu-jin stunt director's instructions, we did twenty laps and returned to our spot.
"Whew. Feels light, right?"
"My body's not fully warmed up yet... Can't we do a bit more?"
Even after running fast, none of us showed fatigue. You could feel their consistent body management.
"You seniors have amazing stamina?"
The two seniors' eyebrows twitched.
"...Jun-seo junior. Are you indirectly calling us old?"
"......"
"Ah, no. I meant it as praise for how well you maintain your bodies."
Yang Hyuk-su, eyeing me suspiciously, let out a snort.
"Kidding. Kidding. Why so flustered? Was it real?"
"It was meant as praise."
Right then.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The stunt director reappeared, clapping, scanned us alternately, and spoke.
"Bodies warmed up? Now, with my help, I'll bring in the three who'll teach you action."
No sooner had the stunt director finished than three people strode up, lining up in front of us face-to-face.
What.
'It's those guys from earlier?'
They were the stuntmen who had recreated the famous "Nine Era" scene right before our eyes.
"They've completed the full Action School curriculum, so no shortcomings in teaching you. Your facing partner is yours. Follow your partner. I'll be teaching the alumni here the actions for 'Viper.'"
Ah, so the stunt director isn't teaching us directly.
A bit disappointing...
As the stunt director left, the seniors moved to practice areas with their respective partners.
"......"
"......"
An awkward silence settled where only the two of us remained.
"Hello? Actor Lee Jun-seo. I'm Kim Su-han."
My partner broke the silence.
"Yes. Instructor Kim Su-han. Can we just stay here instead of moving?"
"Sure. Before simple actions... mind if I demo the action you'll do later as a teaser?"
"Really?"
He scratched his head with an awkward smile. Seemed like there was a reason to show high-level action first.
"It's just... I wanted to show off to you, Actor Lee Jun-seo... Let you see my level."
"Not a bad reason."
"Wait here a sec."
The instructor, who said to wait, brought over a man about Senior Yang Hyuk-su's build. And even what looked like a dangerous weapon...
'That small knife is a prop, right?'
Thud! Thack! Dak!
Without a word to start, the man attacked the instructor first.
What followed was an intense exchange.
From the sounds, definitely props. The two wielded them skillfully, seeming evenly matched.
No...
Looking closer, not quite even.
The instructor landed more minor hits. If it were real knives, even grazes would be fatal?
The fine details...
I liked them a lot.
"That's the end. Probably the hardest part."
I was surprised by the instructor's words.
I'd already memorized all the moves, so with a little time, I could replicate it.
"Hmm..."
"What did you think?"
"Instructor? Sorry to ask, but... could you spar with that guy just five times? I think I can do it with a bit of practice."
"...Pardon? After seeing that?"
I nodded firmly at his incredulous expression.
"Give it a try. Like I said earlier. This action is really tough."
I took the prop knife from the instructor.
Not too soft.
Not too hard either.
The tip was blunt. Even full thrust would just bruise?
Yeah, about that level.
"Will he really be okay? We had trouble memorizing this too."
"Give him five tries. He'll see how hard it is himself."
"If that's the case..."
I heard voices worrying about me.
Then I'd have to prove to the instructor and the man it wasn't just talk.
'Do it exactly as memorized.'
One deep breath to clear stray thoughts, eyes locked on the opponent.
I assumed combat stance.
"You can start."
As it began, the opponent closed in instantly and attacked. I dodged the first strike, reversed my grip on the prop knife, and swung my arm.